Curriculum

New Zealand Curriculum

It is the New Zealand Curriculum that sets the national direction for learning for the children of New Zealand. The curriculum makes explicit the values to be encouraged, demonstrated and explored by students. It also identifies a set of key competencies that students will make sense of, and demonstrate proficiency in, across a range of contexts and learning areas.

The New Zealand Curriculum has eight learning areas: English, The Arts, Health and Physical Education (PE), Learning Languages, Mathematics and Statistics, Science, Social Sciences and Technology. Students develop key knowledge, skills and concepts in each area and learn how to apply them in their lives.

St Martins Curriculum

Here is a summary of how the New Zealand Curriculum is implemented at St Martins. See The St Martins Way for more information about our unique learning model.

English

All strands of the English curriculum are deliberately taught. Teachers will plan and implement programmes that will develop students ability to:

comprehend language through listening, reading, and viewing a variety of texts and contexts

express themselves with increasing confidence through speaking, writing, and presenting in a range of contexts

Literacy demands will be identified in all Inquiry / Integrated units and explicitly taught. This involves teachers:

linking literacy needs into inquiry learning and embedding in meaningful context for learning where possible.

including in planning, intentions to explicitly teach subject specific language needs within inquiry topic work and other cross curricula links.

Mathematics and Statistics

All strands of the Mathematics document will be deliberately taught. There will be an emphasis on numeracy.

Mathematics and Statistics demands will be identified in all Inquiry / Integrated units and explicitly taught. This involves teachers linking numeracy needs into inquiry learning, cross curricula and embedding in meaningful context for learning where possible.

Science, Social Sciences, Health and Technology

These learning areas are predominantly taught through inquiry. Our children develop values, key competencies and habits of mind through questioning, researching and processing information, taking action and reflecting and evaluating on their learning.

The Arts

The arts are very strong at St Martins School. Students have access to a range of quality learning opportunities, these include:

The visual arts are predominately taught within the classroom programme.

Physical Education

St Martins School offers a wide range of quality physical activities, movement skills and sporting opportunities, both within and outside school. These include:

Planned PE lessons

Classroom and Team fitness / energizer sessions

Whole School Sporting Activities – (training for and events)

Local and national competitions

Te Reo Māori

Te Reo Māori is presently delivery through integration across the learning areas. Te Reo is to be taught at least 4 times per week. However, this is an area that needs major improvement. Our main focus over the next two years is to:

identify student and professional needs through self review.

consult with local community experts

develop a school wide Te Reo Māori delivery programme

provide professional development for staff

build a quality bank of resources.

Learning Languages

Learning Languages is presently delivered in isolation in the Senior school. However, this is an area that needs major improvement. Our main focus over the next two years is to:

identify student and professional needs through self review

consult with local community

develop school wide Learning Languages delivery programme

provide professional development for staff

build a quality bank of resources

Curriculum Areas Under Development and Review in 2013

Blended e-Learning support programme with cluster schools.

Development of effective and reliable OTJs (Overall Teacher Judgements) and moderation for caregiver reports and reporting student achievement.

Development of ALiM-type (Accelerated Learning in Mathematics) programmes across the school for numeracy and literacy.

Development of the ARTS learning area

Formalised structure of delivery of the Arts where skills and processes are introduced in a systematic way for all students.

Extra Curricular – Opportunities are provided for students to participate in a range of activities eg sport, choir, Kapahaka, arts, instrumental, interchange and EOTC activities.

Development of a school wide physical education programme of delivery.

Development of innovative community programmes.

Development and implementation of a Cultural Responsiveness strategic plan in consultation with our local iwi.